Sparks Ignites

My third article has been published in Elephant Journal. Please be courteous and read it. Also share the article with friends and family. I will allow the use of your cell phone to tweet or text the link in this circumstance.  Click here to read.

“For every end there is a beginning.” The phrase can sound cliché or trite, because we’ve heard it so many times.   Whether it is cliché or not, it certainly is true when I stop to contemplate the meaning. As humans everyone comes to an end, and we all have a finite amount of time.   During our lifetime there are many beginnings and endings. For most things, there has to be a conclusion before moving to the next phase.   We stand on many stages during our life, and the curtain must come down before we can move to the next spotlight. From childhood to adulthood, our characters certainly change, as do our experiences and beliefs. I couldn’t wait until my school years were over, because the work world seemed more appealing than homework and gym class. As I entered “Corporate America,” I realized that my college days seemed so much better. I missed the learning process and being part of a group of students that supported each other.   We can find...

I just read an article my cousin posted on Facebook. Scientists and researchers are debunking the myth of sunscreen and skin cancer – WTF!!! My last blog about my issues with the sun, and the fact that sunscreen was the remedy for a pale complexion need to be reexamined.   Evidently, the use of sunscreens can enhance skin cancer rather than prevent it. A PhD scientist found that sunscreens are not only hazardous to humans, but they are dangerous to the environment as well. Furthermore, Swedish researchers (the land of blue-eyed, blonde people) found that women who avoid sunbathing during the summer are twice as likely to die of cancer as those who sunbathe every day. It all has to do with the body’s production of vitamin D and the how it protects us from diseases.   If all the research is correct, in essence, we are doing ourselves harm.   I completely have to rethink my belief, that avoiding the sun is the healthiest habit for me. Also, I have to wor...

This is a favorite time of year for those of us who are descendants of Northern Europeans with fair complexions – Sunburn Season. Yes, all of us white skin and freckled individuals have something to look forward to, the brutal rays of the summer sun. Bring out the SPF 1,000, the big umbrellas, wide brimmed hats and the “Jackie O” sunglasses. It is time to cover up. Of course, you can always do what I do – stay in the house.   I was born with the distinctive Irish/English pale skin. In fact, my mother was quite fair, so she was cautious of the sun. If she had spent a great deal of time sunbathing when she was pregnant with me, I would have been born sunburnt. In the sun, I always feel like an ant under a magnifying glass waiting to explode into flames. Let’s face it; I know how a vampire feels – without the coffin and the dirt nap. Being fair skinned and blue-eyed makes me a target for the rays of the sun. I was Goth pale before it was popular. It is not enjoyable go...

It sounds like a cliché, but our views and perspective of life really do change as we age, or at least they do for me.  The naivety of youth fades away, as we realize that we need to truly share our humanity to make a difference in our lives, and the lives of others. A basic part of us as humans, all want to be accepted, loved and feel that we are part of a community.  I know for me it has always been about feeling accepted, and loved for who I truly am as an individual. The problem is that, as humans we spend too much time protecting, deflecting and masking our true selves behind a public façade. We are taught to keep a stiff upper lip, and never air our dirty laundry in public. Unfortunately, it is our personal issues and problems that bring us to together as humans. We find commonality in our humanity, so we should learn to share, and reach out to others. We often feel great sadness when we hear of the tragic passing of a celebrity from an accidental...

I have a tendency to grow tired everyday as afternoon slips into evening.   As twilight approaches, I always feel the need to put my feet up and relax for a bit. As an avid reader, I love to open a book for a while and let the day’s stresses fade.   Sometimes, I get so relaxed I nod off mid-sentence on a page. It is that kind of sleep that overcomes you, and you don’t realize you fell asleep, until you wake up an hour later and notice that you drooled all over Chapter Five. I enjoy the comfort of our sectional sofa, and the variety of ways I can relax on it. Just recently, I propped myself in a comfortable position with a copy of Stephen King’s latest novel. I was looking forward to immersing myself in his macabre world, and taking a break from a sometimes-unpleasant reality.   I pushed my glasses up the ridge of my nose, cracked open the book, and let the words stream into my consciousness. There is always such a feeling of escapism when I read. I can experi...